Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, National
Security Affairs, Volume II, Part 2

Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file

Memorandum by the President
to the Special Assistant to the President (Jackson)

[Augusta, Georgia,]
December 31, 1953.

secret

I can think of no reason that would prevent us from beginning the
implementation of the things suggested in your memorandum dated December
28th.1 I assume
that Secretary Dulles and
Chairman Strauss agree with the
suggestions you have outlined. If they do, it would seem to me that
something could be started instantly on the matter.

As for your letter to me dated December 29th, I cannot agree that the
State–Defense quarrel makes much sense even though, as you say, it may be
both bitter and deep.

The question of total, as opposed to atomic, disarmament is largely academic.
Neither can be accomplished without the most rigid and complete system of
inspection—this we feel perfectly certain the Soviets would never allow.

Moreover, I should like to discuss with all the so-called “military experts”
just what would be the effect on us and our position if atomic weapons could
be wholly eliminated from the world’s armaments.

The mere argument that because we are ahead of the Russians in atomic weapons
that this one phase of our armament activity should be pushed to the limit,
must be taken into account.

Also we must consider the factor that atomic weapons strongly favor the side
that attacks aggressively and by surprise. This the
United States will never do; and let me point out that we never had any of
this hysterical fear of any nation until atomic
weapons appeared upon the scene and we knew that others had solved the
secret.

Here I am not arguing either side of the particular question that you
mention. I am merely pointing out that there needs to be a bit of
intellectual analysis of these grave problems rather than screaming support
of a position already taken.

At a reasonably convenient date, I hope you will arrange to have Secretary
Dulles and Secretary
Wilson, together with
Chairman Strauss and yourself,
meet with me to talk over this general matter. Each of the individuals just
named can bring with him one assistant if he so desires.

DDE

See the attachment to C. D. Jackson’s letter of Dec. 29
to the President, p. 1316.↩